Shoe Having A Structural Knit Region

ABSTRACT

A shoe includes a sole and an upper. The knit upper has a knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine. The knitted element has at least a first area and a second area. The first and second areas are mutually exclusive. The first area is of a first knit structure having a first gauge, and the second area is of a second knit structure having a second gauge. The first gauge is larger than the second gauge. The first area extends within the one or more regions such that the first area provides increased rigidity to the upper in such regions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND Field

This disclosure pertains to shoes having stiffening features.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure pertains to a shoe having a sole and a knit upper secured to the sole. The knit upper has a knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine. The knitted element includes a knitted upper heel region, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region, a knitted upper medial midfoot region, a knitted upper metatarsal region, a knitted upper lateral ball region, a knitted upper medial ball region, and a knitted toe region. The knitted toe region includes a knitted upper toe region and a knitted lower margin region, the knitted lower margin region being adjacent the sole and within the knitted toe region. The knitted lower margin region extends from a lateral side of the shoe to a toe end of the shoe, from the toe end of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe. The knitted upper toe region is adjacent the knitted lower margin region and extends laterally across the shoe. The upper metatarsal region includes a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region. The upper has a knitted upper lateral side region and a knitted upper medial side region. The upper lateral side region includes the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region, and the upper lateral ball region. The upper medial side region includes the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region, and the upper medial ball region. The toe region is seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions during the knitting process. The upper medial and lateral ball regions are seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region during the knitting process. The upper metatarsal region is seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions during the knitting process. The knitted lower margin of the knitted toe region is of a different knit structure than at least the knitted upper toe region such that the knitted lower margin of the knitted toe region resists stretching of the knitted upper and is more resilient than at least some other portions of the knitted toe region.

Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to a shoe having a sole and a knit upper secured to the sole. The knit upper has a knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine. The knitted element includes a knitted upper heel region, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region, a knitted upper medial midfoot region, a knitted upper metatarsal region, a knitted upper lateral ball region, a knitted upper medial ball region, and a knitted upper toe region. The upper metatarsal region includes a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region. The upper has a knitted upper lateral side region and a knitted upper medial side region. The upper lateral side region includes the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region. The upper medial side region includes the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region. The upper toe region is seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions during the knitting process, the upper medial and lateral ball regions are seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region during the knitting process, and the upper metatarsal region is seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions during the knitting process. The knitted element includes a heelward wingtip section and a toeward wingtip section. The heelward wingtip section and the toeward wingtip section meet at a wingtip line. The wingtip line has a medial line portion and a lateral line portion. The medial line portion includes a wing-shaped curved line extending forward from at least the upper medial metatarsal region to the upper toe region and a central line extending rearward from the upper toe region. The lateral line portion includes a wing-shaped curved line extending forward from at least the upper lateral metatarsal region to the upper toe region and a central line extending rearward from the upper toe region. The rearwardly extending central line of the medial line portion converges toward the rearwardly extending central line of the lateral line portion. The heelward wingtip section is adjacent the wingtip line and extends longitudinally toward the knitted upper heel region. The toeward wingtip section is adjacent the wingtip line and extends longitudinally toward the knitted upper toe region. The toeward wingtip section has a first gauge, and the heelward wingtip section has a second gauge. The first gauge is larger than the section gauge.

Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to a shoe with a sole and a knit upper secured to the sole. The knit upper has a knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine. The knitted element includes a knitted upper heel region, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region, a knitted upper medial midfoot region, a knitted upper metatarsal region, a knitted upper lateral ball region, a knitted upper medial ball region, and a knitted toe region. The knitted toe region includes a knitted upper toe region and a knitted lower margin region. The knitted lower margin region is adjacent the sole and within the knitted toe region. The knitted lower margin region extends from a lateral side of the shoe to a toe end of the shoe and from the toe end of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe. The knitted upper toe region is adjacent the knitted lower margin region and extends laterally across the shoe. The upper metatarsal region includes a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region. The upper has a knitted upper lateral side region and a knitted upper medial side region. The upper lateral side region includes the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region. The upper medial side region includes the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region. The toe region is seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions during the knitting process. The upper medial and lateral ball regions are seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region during the knitting process. The upper metatarsal region is seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions during the knitting process. The knitted element has at least a first area and a second area. The first area is in one or more regions of the knitted element, and the second area is in one or more regions of the knitted element. The first and second areas are mutually exclusive. The first area is of a first knit structure having a first gauge, and the second area is of a second knit structure having a second gauge. The first gauge is larger than the second gauge. The first area extends within the one or more regions such that the first area provides increased rigidity to the upper in such regions.

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the operation of the embodiments described herein, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe, the shoe having a stretch resistant knit area.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a medial view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe, the shoe having a stretch resistant knit area.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the shoe shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a lateral view of the shoe shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a medial view of the shoe shown in FIG. 5.

Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawing figures indicate corresponding items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a shoe in accordance with the present disclosure is indicated by reference numeral 10 and is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The shoe 10 includes a sole, generally indicated at 12, and a knit upper, generally indicated at 14. The sole 12 is secured to the upper 14. For example, and without limitation, the upper 14 is stitched, glued, or otherwise suitably secured to the sole 12. The shoe 10 extends forward from a heel end 18 to a toe end 19. The knit upper 14 has a knitted element 20.

The knitted element 20 is formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine (not shown). The knitted element 20 includes a knitted upper heel region 22, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region 24, a knitted upper medial midfoot region 26, a knitted upper metatarsal region 28, a knitted upper lateral ball region 30, a knitted upper medial ball region 32, and a knitted toe region 34. The knitted toe region 34 includes a knitted upper toe region 36 and a knitted lower margin region 38. The knitted lower margin region 38 is adjacent the sole 12 and within the knitted toe region 34. The knitted lower margin 38 extends upwardly from the sole 12. The knitted lower margin region extends from a lateral side 40 of the shoe to the toe end 19 of the shoe and from the toe end 19 of the shoe to a medial side 42 of the shoe. In other words, the knitted lower margin 38 is a band that extends around the lower portion of the toe region 34. The knitted lower margin 38 may extend toward the heel end 18 further than at least a portion of the throat region 44 in which the upper 14 is laced.

The knitted upper toe region 36 is adjacent the knitted lower margin region 38 and extends laterally across the shoe 10. The upper metatarsal region 28 includes a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region 46 and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region 48. The upper has a knitted upper lateral side region 50 and a knitted upper medial side region 52. The upper lateral side region 50 includes the upper lateral midfoot region 24, the upper lateral metatarsal region 46, and the upper lateral ball region 30. The upper medial side region 52 includes the upper medial midfoot region 28, the upper medial metatarsal region 48, and the upper medial ball region 32. The toe region 34 is seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions 30, 32 during the knitting process. The upper medial and lateral ball regions 30, 32 are seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region 28 during the knitting process. The upper metatarsal region 28 is seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions 24, 26 during the knitting process. The knitted lower margin 38 of the knitted toe region 34 is of a different knit structure than at least the knitted upper toe region 36 such that the knitted lower margin 38 of the knitted toe region resists stretching of the knitted upper 14 and is more resilient than at least some other portions of the knitted toe region (e.g., the heel region 22). For example, and without limitation, the resiliency may allow for the shoe 10 to better keep its shape with and/or without a foot within the shoe 10. The knitted lower margin 38 may have greater cohesion than the upper toe region 36, cohesion being the resistance of a section of the knitted element to being pulled apart. In other words, a section of the knitted element with greater cohesion will more strongly resist separation between adjacent stitches when the knitted element is under a load (e.g., stretched).

The knitted element 20 is comprised of substantially the same yarn throughout. The yarn being substantially the same in that it has the same or substantially the same mechanical properties, shape, consistency, or the like. The yarn can vary in color and type of stitch throughout the knitted element 20 while still being substantially the same throughout. In some embodiments, the knitted element 20 is a single layer. The difference of cohesion is achieved through the use of different stitch densities (e.g., gauges or stitches per area) because at least some other factors which impact the stretchiness of the knitted element are fixed as a result of the use of a single layer and substantially the same yarn throughout the knitted element 20.

In some embodiments, the lower toe margin 38 is knitted using a first stitch (e.g., a jersey stitch) while the entirety of the knitted element 20 other than the lower toe margin 38 is knitted from a second, different, stitch (e.g., a pointelle stitch). The increased cohesion in the lower toe margin 38 is a result of the jersey stitch and/or a higher stitch gauge.

In some embodiments, the knitted lower margin 38 of the knitted toe region 34 has a first knit structure having a first gauge, and the knitted upper toe region 36 has a second knit structure having a second gauge. The first gauge larger than the second gauge (e.g., there are more stitches per given area in the lower margin 38 than in the upper toe region 36). The first knit structure is of a first type of stitch, and the second knit structure is of a second type of stitch. For example, and without limitation, the first knit structure is comprised of jersey stitches and the second knit structure is comprised of pointelle stitches as depicted in FIGS. 1-4. Alternatively, the first type of stitch may be a pointelle stitch and the second type of stitch may be a jersey stitch.

In alternative embodiments, the first knit structure comprises a first type of stitch and the second knit structure also comprises the first type of stitch. For example, and without limitation, the lower margin 38 and the upper toe region 36 are both knitted using the same jersey stitch. To provide for greater cohesion in the lower margin 38, the lower margin 38 is knit with a larger gauge (e.g., more stitches per unit area). This provides greater support in the lower margin 38 and causes the lower margin 38 to resist stretching to a greater degree than other areas of the upper 14. Advantageously, this supports a user's foot when the shoe 10 is worn.

The knitted lower margin 38 may differ from one or more other regions of the shoe 10. For example, the knitted lower margin 38 of the knitted toe region 34 has a first knit structure having a first gauge. The knitted upper lateral midfoot region 24, the knitted upper medial midfoot region 26, the knitted upper metatarsal region 28, the knitted upper lateral ball region 30, and the knitted upper medial ball region 32 has a second knit structure having a second gauge. The first gauge is larger than the second gauge. In some embodiments, the knitted upper heel region 22 has a third knit structure. The third knit structure as a third gauge, with the third gauge being larger than the second gauge.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8 another embodiment of the shoe 10 is shown and is generally indicated with reference numeral 110. It should be understood that parts referred to with similar reference numerals in each embodiment share substantially the same or the same function and/or characteristics. For example, and without limitation, the shoe 10 includes a knitted element 20 and the shoe 110 includes a knitted element 120. Where substantially different, the components of the shoe 110 are further described below.

The knitted element 120 is seamlessly knit to include a heelward wingtip section 137 and a toeward wingtip section 139. The heelward wingtip section 137 and the toeward wingtip section 139 meeting at a wingtip line 141. The wingtip line 141 has a medial line portion 143 and a lateral line portion 145. The medial line portion 143 includes a wing-shaped curved line 147 extending forward from at least the upper medial metatarsal 148 region to the upper toe region 134 and a central line 149 extending rearward from the upper toe region 134. The lateral line portion 145 includes a wing-shaped curved line 151 extending forward from at least the upper lateral metatarsal region 146 to the upper toe region 134 and a central line 153 extending rearward from the upper toe region 134. The rearwardly extending central line 149 of the medial line portion 143 converges toward the rearwardly extending central line 153 of the lateral line portion 145 and the two meet at a heelward facing point 155. The heelward wingtip section 137 is adjacent the wingtip line 141 and extends longitudinally toward the knitted upper heel region 122. The toeward wingtip section 139 is adjacent the wingtip line 141 and extends longitudinally toward the knitted upper toe region 134.

The toeward wingtip 139 section has a first gauge, and the heelward wingtip section 137 has a second gauge. The first gauge is larger than the section gauge. This difference in gauges causes the upper 14 to support a user's foot while also allowing for breathability and stretching in the heelward wingtip section 137. The toeward wingtip section 139 and the heelward wingtip section 137 are constructed of the same stitch type. For example, and without limitation, both the toeward wingtip section 139 and the heelward wingtip section 137 are constructed of the same jersey stitch. The heelward wingtip section 137 does not extend within the upper medial midfoot region 126 and does not extend within the upper lateral midfoot region 124. The toeward wingtip section 139 does not extend within the upper medial midfoot region 126 and does not extend within the upper lateral midfoot region 124. In some embodiments, the toeward wingtip section 139 is uniform and the heelward wingtip section 137 is uniform. For example, and without limitation, the toeward wingtip section 139 and the heelward wingtip section 137 are devoid of broguing within the section.

The knitted element 120 may include in each of the upper medial metatarsal region 148 and the upper lateral metatarsal region 146 an area 157, 159 respectively of the knitted element 20 having a third gauge. The third gauge is smaller than the first gauge and the second gauge. In such a case, the toeward wingtip section 139 is of a first knit structure having a first stitch type, and the area(s) 157, 159 of the knitted element having a third gauge is of a second knit structure having a second stitch type. For example, and without limitation, the toeward wingtip section 139 is constructed of a jersey stitch and the area(s) 157, 159 having the third gauge is constructed of a pointelle stitch. These features provide for flexibility and breathability in the metatarsal region 128 while the toeward wingtip section 139 and/or the heelward wingtip section 137 provide for stability and support. These areas 157, 159 may also extend within the medial ball region 132 and the lateral ball region 130, respectively.

In alternative embodiments, the toeward wingtip section 139 is constructed of a first knit type and the heelward wingtip section 137 is constructed of a second knit type. For example, and without limitation, the toeward wingtip section 139 is constructed of a jersey stitch and the heelward wingtip section 137 is constructed of a pointelle stitch.

The knitted element 120 of the shoe 110 further includes a medial area 161 and a lateral area 163. The medial area 161 is in at least the upper medial midfoot region 126, and the lateral area 163 is in at least the upper lateral midfoot region 124. The lateral area 161 and the medial area 163 are of a knit structure having the first gauge (e.g., the same gauge as the toeward wingtip section 139) or the second gauge (e.g., the same gauge as the heelward wingtip section 137).

The knitted element 120 further includes a second medial area 165 and a second lateral area 167. The second medial area is in at least the upper medial midfoot region 126 and is adjacent the medial area 161. The second medial area is of a knit structure having a gauge smaller than the first gauge and/or smaller than the second gauge. The second lateral area 167 is in at least the upper lateral midfoot region 124 and is adjacent the lateral area 163. The second latera area 167 is of a knit structure having a gauge smaller than the first gauge and/or smaller than the second gauge. Advantageously, the first and second lateral and medial areas work in combination to provide support in the midfoot and/or quarter regions while also providing breathability.

In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the shoe of the disclosure has several advantages over the prior art.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. For example, the wedge shoe may be any type of wedge shoe, such as a wedge sandal, a wedge pump, an open-toe wedge, a platform wedge, etc. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents

It should also be understood that when introducing elements in the present disclosure in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations. 

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 21. A shoe comprising: a sole; a knit upper secured to the sole, the knit upper having a knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine, the knitted element comprising a knitted upper heel region, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region, a knitted upper medial midfoot region, a knitted upper metatarsal region, a knitted upper lateral ball region, a knitted upper medial ball region, and a knitted toe region, the knitted toe region including a knitted upper toe region and knitted lower margin region, the knitted lower margin region being adjacent the sole and within the knitted toe region, the knitted lower margin region extending from a lateral side of the shoe to a toe end of the shoe and from the toe end of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe, the knitted upper toe region being adjacent the knitted lower margin region and extending laterally across the shoe, the upper metatarsal region including a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region, the upper having a knitted upper lateral side region and a knitted upper medial side region, the upper lateral side region including the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region, the upper medial side region including the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region, the toe region being seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions during the knitting process, the upper medial and lateral ball regions being seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region during the knitting process, the upper metatarsal region being seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions during the knitting process, the knitted lower margin of the knitted toe region being of a different knit structure than at least the knitted upper toe region such that the knitted lower margin of the knitted toe region resists stretching of the knitted upper and is more resilient than at least some other portions of the knitted toe region.
 22. A shoe in accordance with claim 21 wherein the knitted lower margin of the knitted toe region has a first knit structure having a first gauge, and wherein the knitted upper toe region has a second knit structure having a second gauge, the first gauge larger than the second gauge.
 23. A shoe in accordance with claim 22 wherein the first knit structure comprises a first type of stitch and wherein the second knit structure also comprises the first type of stitch.
 24. A shoe in accordance with claim 23 wherein the first type of stitch is a jersey stitch.
 25. A shoe in accordance with claim 22 wherein the first knit structure comprises a first type of stitch, and wherein the second knit structure comprises a second type of stitch.
 26. A shoe in accordance with claim 25 wherein the first type of stitch is a jersey stitch and the second type of stitch is a pointelle stitch.
 27. A shoe in accordance with claim 21 wherein the knitted lower margin of the knitted toe region has a first knit structure having a first gauge and wherein the knitted upper lateral midfoot region, the knitted upper medial midfoot region, the knitted upper metatarsal region, the knitted upper lateral ball region, and the knitted upper medial ball region has a second knit structure having a second gauge, the first gauge larger than the second gauge.
 28. A shoe in accordance with claim 27 wherein the knitted upper heel region has a third knit structure, the third knit structure having a third gauge, the third gauge being larger than the second gauge.
 29. A shoe comprising: a sole; a knit upper secured to the sole, the knit upper having a knitted element, the knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine, the knitted element comprising a knitted upper heel region, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region, a knitted upper medial midfoot region, a knitted upper metatarsal region, a knitted upper lateral ball region, a knitted upper medial ball region, and a knitted upper toe region, the upper metatarsal region including a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region, the upper having a knitted upper lateral side region and a knitted upper medial side region, the upper lateral side region including the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region, the upper medial side region including the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region, the upper toe region being seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions during the knitting process, the upper medial and lateral ball regions being seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region during the knitting process, the upper metatarsal region being seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions during the knitting process; the knitted element including a heelward wingtip section and a toeward wingtip section, the heelward wingtip section and the toeward wingtip section meeting at a wingtip line, the wingtip line having a medial line portion and a lateral line portion, the medial line portion comprising a wing-shaped curved line extending forward from at least the upper medial metatarsal region to the upper toe region and a central line extending rearward from the upper toe region, the lateral line portion comprising a wing-shaped curved line extending forward from at least the upper lateral metatarsal region to the upper toe region and a central extending rearward from the upper toe region, the rearwardly extending central line of the medial line portion converging toward the rearwardly extending central line of the lateral line portion, the heelward wingtip section being adjacent the wingtip line and extending longitudinally toward the knitted upper heel region, the toeward wingtip section being adjacent the wingtip line and extending longitudinally toward the knitted upper toe region; the toeward wingtip section having a first gauge, the heelward wingtip section having a second gauge, the first gauge being larger than the section gauge.
 30. A shoe in accordance with claim 29, the toeward wingtip section and the heelward wingtip section being of the same stitch type.
 31. A shoe in accordance with claim 29, the toeward wingtip section being of a first knit type and the heelward wingtip section being of a second knit type.
 32. A shoe in accordance with claim 29, the heelward wingtip section not being within the upper medial midfoot region and not being within the upper lateral midfoot region.
 33. A shoe in accordance with claim 29, the toeward wingtip section not being within the upper medial midfoot region and not being within the upper lateral midfoot region.
 34. A shoe in accordance with claim 29, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper lateral metatarsal region each including an area of the knitted element having a third gauge, the third gauge being smaller than the first gauge and the second gauge.
 35. A shoe in accordance with claim 34, the toeward wingtip section being of a first knit structure having a first stitch type, and the area of the knitted element having a third gauge being of a second knit structure having a second stitch type.
 36. A shoe in accordance with claim 29, the knitted element comprising a medial area and a lateral area, the medial area being in at least the upper medial midfoot region, the lateral area being in at least the upper lateral midfoot region, the lateral area and the medial area being of a knit structure having the first gauge.
 37. A shoe in accordance with claim 36, the knitted element comprising a second medial area and a second lateral area, the second medial area being in at least the upper medial midfoot region and being adjacent the medial area, the second medial area being of a knit structure having a gauge smaller than the first gauge, the second lateral area being in at least the upper lateral midfoot region and being adjacent the lateral area, the second latera area being of a knit structure having a gauge smaller than the first gauge.
 38. A shoe comprising: a sole; a knit upper secured to the sole, the knit upper having a knitted element being formed of a unitary one-piece construction during a knitting process on a knitting machine, the knitted element comprising a knitted upper heel region, a knitted upper lateral midfoot region, a knitted upper medial midfoot region, a knitted upper metatarsal region, a knitted upper lateral ball region, a knitted upper medial ball region, and a knitted toe region, the knitted toe region including a knitted upper toe region and knitted lower margin region, the knitted lower margin region being adjacent the sole and within the knitted toe region, the knitted lower margin region extending from a lateral side of the shoe to a toe end of the shoe and from the toe end of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe, the knitted upper toe region being adjacent the knitted lower margin region and extending laterally across the shoe, the upper metatarsal region including a knitted upper lateral metatarsal region and a knitted upper medial metatarsal region, the upper having a knitted upper lateral side region and a knitted upper medial side region, the upper lateral side region including the upper lateral midfoot region, the upper lateral metatarsal region and the upper lateral ball region, the upper medial side region including the upper medial midfoot region, the upper medial metatarsal region and the upper medial ball region, the toe region being seamlessly knitted with the upper medial and lateral ball regions during the knitting process, the upper medial and lateral ball regions being seamlessly knitted with the upper metatarsal region during the knitting process, the upper metatarsal region being seamlessly knitted with the upper lateral and medial midfoot regions during the knitting process; the knitted element having at least a first area and a second area, the first area being in one or more regions of the knitted element, the second area being in one or more regions of the knitted element, the first and second areas being mutually exclusive, the first area being of a first knit structure having a first gauge, the second area being of a second knit structure having a second gauge, the first gauge being larger than the second gauge, the first area extending within the one or more regions such that the first area provides increased rigidity to the upper in such regions.
 39. A shoe in accordance with claim 38, the first area being in at least the knitted toe region.
 40. A shoe in accordance with claim 38, the first area being at least in one of the upper medial midfoot region and the upper lateral midfoot region. 